Magic Millions releases ‘quality’ 2YOs In Training Sale catalogue
Bowditch predicts Singapore closure will present new opportunities for domestic buyers
Barry Bowditch believes the catalogue he and the team at Magic Millions has collated for October’s Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale far exceeds the quality the company has presented at the auction in recent years.
The auction house yesterday released a 146-lot catalogue for its one-day sale, which will take place at their Bundall complex on October 24.
With Singapore racing set to cease at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, and plenty of uncertainty surrounding Macau’s place in the racing industry, many could have predicted slightly depleted entries for the two-year-old sale.
However, Bowditch, managing director at Magic Millions, told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday that he was delighted with this year’s collection of youngsters and the opportunity they presented to emerging markets.
“I think the quality has gone well above what we’ve had in recent years, you’d love a few more numbers in there, but the quality that our clients have gone out and purchased in 2023 is far and away better than what we’ve had in recent years,” Bowditch told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“This sale has a long and proud history of producing outstanding graduates around the world, so we’ve got a lot of confidence in what we’ll be breezing up in the next couple of months.”
The catalogue includes juveniles represented by 65 individual sires including four-time champion sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Zoustar (Northern Meteor) and Dundeel (High Chaparral), Russian Revolution (Snitzel), So You Think (High Chaparral), Spirit of Boom (Sequalo) and Toronado (High Chaparral) to name a small few.
Meanwhile, progeny by proven Hong Kong sires Deep Field (Northern Meteor), All Too Hard (Casino Prince) and Star Turn (Star Witness) are also on offer.
International graduates of the sale include a host of top-class performers in Asian territories such as Singapore, Macau and Malaysia, as well as multiple Group 1 winners in Hong Kong.
Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega), Top Knight (Zoustar) and Celavi (Fighting Sun) have enjoyed success in Singapore having been purchased out of the Gold Coast sales ring, while last year’s Macau Gold Cup (Listed, 1800m) Star Of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince) was also sourced at the sale.
However, while Bowditch does not believe the recent announcement that racing in the Lion City will not continue beyond next season has had a detrimental effect in terms of the quality of horses set to be offered at the sale, he does admit it is something of a blow for a market where Singapore buyers have made their mark in the past.
“It is something that is quite unfortunate and when people have been purchasing these horses, we were all assuming that Singapore was in a good place,” Bowditch said.
“But in saying that, there are a lot of horses that will suit the domestic market and the market in Hong Kong, which is one that we will be working hard in getting a really good buying bench from.”
Bowditch feels the void that Singapore will leave offers ideal opportunities for potential domestic buyers to take advantage of.
“It’s clearly far from ideal and it takes a big buying bench away from the sale, but on the flip side of that it provides greater opportunity for other markets,” Bowditch said.
“I think the domestic product and prize-money is great here and being able to see these horses in the lead-up to the sale gives those potential buyers more reason to participate at the sale.”
Domestic graduates sold in previous editions of the auction include recent million-dollar earners Krone (Eurozone), Tyzone (Written Tycoon) and Victorem (Shooting To Win). The sale also famously produced the 2009 Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), 2011 Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner and now prominent New Zealand-based sire, Shocking (Street Cry).
A total of 28 vendors will be represented at this year’s renewal, including Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud. The consignor will offer a draft of 32 two-year-olds by a plethora of stallions, including All Too Hard (Casino Prince), Star Turn, Zoustar and Capitalist (Written Tycoon), while the draft also includes one of only three by Snitzel in the whole sale and the only two lots catalogued by Coolmore’s So You Think.
Kenmore Lodge, Nolen Racing, JCS Thoroughbreds, O’Gorman Racing and Symphony Lodge will also consign two-year-olds on the Gold Coast in October.
In a boost for buyers, 108 lots are BOBS (Racing NSW Breeders Owners Bonus Scheme) eligible, 52 are nominated to the Magic Millions Race Series, ten are nominated for the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), two for the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and 18 lots are QTIS Fully Paid, with another 18 lots VOBIS Silver Nominated.
The juveniles will breeze at one of four sessions across three states in the lead up to the auction, giving prospective buyers a great chance to see each lot gallop on a similar surface.
“There are probably some new players coming through and the ones that will always come back to the breeze-up market. It is always good to have them,” Bowditch said.
“One thing is for sure, to have the confidence coming from our preparers, who have been doing this for a long time, it gives us great reason to rate this sale heavily.”
To view the online catalogue and for more information click here. It can also be downloaded via the Equineline Catalog App from today.
Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale schedule
Thu 28 Sep from 10.30am AEST – Breeze Up, Seymour Racing Club, VIC
Wed 4 Oct from 10am AEDT – Breeze Up, Newcastle Jockey Club, NSW
Thu 5 Oct from 9am AEST – Breeze Up, Gold Coast Turf Club, QLD
Mon 9 Oct – Breeze Up footage available online
Fri 20 Oct from 9am AEST – Breeze Up, Gold Coast Turf Club, QLD
Tue 24 Oct from 12pm AEST – Lot 1-146